Skin Pigment Removal (IPL/Elluminate) in Port Saint Lucie, FL

If you are bothered by how your skin looks because of sun damage or dark spots, Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery can offer you a skin consultation at our Port Saint Lucie, FL office to see if you could benefit from intense pulsed light therapy (IPL). An IPL photofacial is a treatment that rejuvenates the skin for adults with sun damage and hyperpigmentation problems on their face and neck. IPL may not be an invasive procedure, but it can be very effective and produce amazing results. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. William Vinyard is pleased to offer this revolutionary treatment as it sends intense wavelengths of light that warm the skin just enough to set off the natural regeneration process and boost collagen production. Following your procedure, you should see a healthier complexion with a more even skin tone and decreased pigmentation.

An IPL photofacial works deep within the layers of your skin to treat many skin concerns (especially sun spots and brown lesions) with little or no recovery needed. Ideal candidates for an IPL photofacial at Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery may have several problems with their skin, including sun damage, rosacea, hyperpigmentation (brown spots), flushing, freckles, age and sun spots, or broken capillaries. Dr. Vinyard will assess your skin to see if you are a candidate for an IPL photofacial during your private consultation.

A photofacial is done inside our Port Saint Lucie, FL office in about 30-60 minutes in one of our procedure rooms. To start the photofacial, the technician will clean and dry the skin to be treated before covering your eyes with shields. The photofacial is administered using a handheld device that passes over the skin while emitting light energy. While most patients will feel some discomfort during the photofacial, it is generally tolerable for the quick treatment time.

There is no recovery period associated with a photofacial treatment, but you will leave your appointment with slightly flushed tone. This will go away on its own in about a day. You are able to apply makeup the next day following your procedure. You will be required to wear sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight to the treated area for 10-14 days after your treatment.  After several days, the pigmentation that rested under the skin will come to the surface and then begin to flake off. It's critical to not pick at your skin while it heals. We recommend medical-grade skincare to enhace your results and speed the healing after your treatment. While you should see visible results after the first session, your skin will attain the best results after several photofacial sessions. Dr. Vinyard recommends approximately 3 – 6 treatments scheduled around once a month at Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery.

How much does IPL cost?
Your skin is unique, which means the cost of IPL treatments will vary based on your unique goals. During your initial visit, we can help estimate your cost and determine the number of treatments needed to fit your needs and goals. Vinyard Insitute of Plastic Surgery also offers multiple financing options through CareCredit and Alphaeon.

How quick are the results from IPL?
Visible improvements can usually be seen after one IPL treatment, but final results develop around one month after your last treatment. It’s common for you to see different responses following each session. You should see fading of redness, blotchiness, and age spots, brown spots and sun spots over time.

What are the possible side effects of IPL?
It's common to experience mild side effects, like temporary swelling, redness, blisters, crusting, or bruising. These go away on their own 2 – 3 days following your treatment. You will be sun sensitive and you should keep in mind that excessive sun exposure will negatively affect the results of the procedure. We also recommend using sunscreen to protect your skin and prevent damage.

Do I need to prep for IPL?
To prepare for an IPL treatment, patients are usually asked to avoid self-tanners and excessive sun for 2 – 4 weeks prior to the appointment. You might need to discontinue the use of certain medications and topical creams, like Retin-A several days before each procedure. You should also use sun protection (like a hat and sunscreen).

Why should I get multiple IPL sessions?
We recommend getting a series of IPL to produce the best possible results. Each session helps to reduce surface irregularities and spots. Several sessions also allow for longer-lasting results.

You probably didn't worry too much about your skin when you had clear skin, but now that environmental damage, including spots and other issues, are developing, you now may be interested in treatments that correct your appearance. We invite you to learn more about photofacial treatments by calling our Port Saint Lucie, FL office and scheduling a skin examination with Dr. Vinyard. With photofacial treatments at Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery, we can go deep within the layers of damaged skin to help create a youthful glow and a smooth complexion.